Conservation in Malaysia

Blue Ventures Malaysia’s (BVM) aims in Pulau Tioman are to work with local stakeholders to protect and enhance the ecologically rich and diverse natural environments around the island, focusing mainly on coral reefs.

Regular monitoring of the reefs is conducted with visiting, trained volunteers to compare reefs health over space and time. Monitoring allows impacts from Crown of Thorns starfish, physical damage (from divers, snorkelers and dropping anchors) and pollution, all of which are relatively high on the island, to be assessed. Results from the monitoring are available to all stakeholders, and fed back to the Department of Marine Parks Authority, the governmental body that manages the Marine Park around Pulau Tioman to contribute to management plans in the area.

BVM volunteers also conduct regular Crown of Thorns, reef and beach clean-ups. They plan and run a monthly campaign of their choice, which covers a number of topics from responsible tourism tips to ‘say no to plastic bags’. The campaigns are aimed at tourists and locals to highlight various aspects of environmental awareness.

BVM is working with local communities, especially those directly involved in tourism, the main source of income on the island. BVM works with dive centres, snorkel operators, resorts, restaurants and schools to raise awareness and encourage more responsible tourist activity. School programs involve teaching ecology, conservation and English in Tekek and Mukut village schools.

Partners for conservation

BVM works closely with Reef Check Malaysia on monitoring and outreach programs around Tioman and with the Department of Marine Parks of Malaysia in regards to management of the marine park (Tioman is a designated marine park of Malaysia). Specifically, BVM are working with the Department of Marine Parks to implement ‘Green Fins’, a UNEP sponsored program that aims to encourage dive operators to practice responsible diving practices, into Tioman.

Blue Ventures Marine Science Scholarships

Other partners include the University of Kebansaan Malaysia with whom data is shared. BVM also offers a two month scholarship to 2-4 marine science students every year. As well as getting involved with the surveying and school programs, the students continue each other’s work on socio-economic monitoring in all the villages around the island. Information and data is also shared with University of Malaya, WWF-Malaysia and Malaysian Nature Society.

Other activities

BVM is developing links with the Juara Turtle Project, a turtle hatchey in Juara village. Further links with this project will lead to the development of the current BVM volunteer project, both for long-term, six week volunteers and for shorter international school and CSR programs.

It is hoped that both monitoring the reefs along with working with the communities will help to develop and improve the management of the natural resources from the government level right through to the community level.